T1 - 6.5A2: Adrianne Moore



Daniel Morgan Wins The War!
By: Adrianne Moore January 17, 1781 Cowpens, South Carolina
Daniel Morgan was born from the Weisn parents in 1736. When he turned 17 he moved to Virginia and became the Redcoats Wagoner. During the French and Indian War, he irritated the British lieutenant. The lieutenant struck him with the flat of his sword. Morgan ended up punching him back and was charged of 499 lashes. Morgan then became a British soldier. Later he joined the American army and fought in the Revolutionary War. That is how the Battle of Cowpens started.

Morgan had a troop of 1,000 minute men, and the British had 1,100. Neither side had a sufficient strength. The British general Traleton had a reputation in southern colonies as a ruthless and impetuous commander. Morgan did not fear Traleton and was determined to beat him.

Morgan received news that the British were five miles away, so when he gathered all his men they formed their lines giving encouragement to all his men. Morgan was prepared to fight against the British. Since Morgan had experience in battles he was able to get into a formation where they fired 3 times then fell back to the second line.

Morgan and his men camped out in the battlefield the night before the battle. When the British got to the battlefield, Morgan warned them “Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” That quote means you cannot fire from such a far distance. When you are close enough to see their eyes then you fire. Morgan’s plan against the army was successful.

No one really believed that he would really win. But Morgan had high hopes in his men, which gave them enough to courage to win! So Traleton lost to Morgan and no longer was a feared man in southern colonies. Morgan was like a hero to all of the colonies. The British will no longer seek out South Carolina. Gorge Washington, being the head of the American troops, congratulated Morgan. Washington always believed in him! Thanks to Morgan South Carolina was not overcome. THANKS!